MIMALLONIDAE; By Dr. W. Schaus. Introduction by Dr. M. Dkaudt. 
635 
10. Family: SVlimaNonidae. 
In arranging this most peculiar family being better known as Perophoridae, there is placed before the 
systematizers a task which is still hardly solvable. If we arrange them at this place in the present work, we 
do not mean to say that they belong to this proximity phylogenetically, but we merely want to conform to 
those authors who formerly arranged these insects with the Drepanidae, the exterior of the imagines of which 
is undoubtedly somewhat similar. As to the phylogeny we can only state to-day that the family probably 
represents a very old type. Hampson considered it to be an offspring of the Limacodidae, having been developed 
parallel to the Megalopygidae and Chrysopolomidae, whilst the Limacodidae are said to be descendent from 
the great Cossid branch. In any case they are a highly specialized group, the ontogenesis and habits of which 
are entirely homogenous. The resemblance to some Drepanid genera is a purely external feature of convergency 
merely referring to the shape of the wings and the scheme of markings in the imagines. The latter are well 
characterized by their medium size, the almost invariable falcate shape of the forewing which in many genera 
exhibits a most pronounced denticulation of the distal margin. As to the colours and markings, we find almost 
exclusively dry leaves copied, and yellowish-grey or light brownish colouring frequently with a dark oblique 
stripe representing a midrib, besides small mildewy spots, often also small hyaline spots. 
The developed insect apparently leads a strict nocturnal life and is almost exclusively captured on the 
lantern. The absence of the proboscis which prevents it from feeding during the imago-stage, also intimates 
the very old age of the family. The most peculiar feature of the family, however, is the case in which the larva 
spends its life and which is apparently made of different kinds of material. The young larvae of some Mimal- 
loninae as well as Lacosominae are known to draw together two small leaves by means of strong silk threads 
which may be enlarged according to requirement by adding pieces of leaves, if the larva grows larger; these 
cases are open on both sides and can be quitted by the larva ad lib. When at rest they are freely suspended 
on a strong thread which, in case the larva wishes to wander, is bitten through. A similar habit we find, for 
instance, in the species of North-American Cicinnus and Lacosoma. On the other hand, Seitz has described 
cases of tropical species, that are made of quite a different material. I have been able to examine cases of an 
undefined species, which are made of excrements. The clods of dirt are pressed into a rectangular flat shape 
like bricks and very regularly placed one next to the other, spun together by means of dense threads and after¬ 
wards polished on the outside. Most interesting is the addition of new cases, if the old one is no more sufficient 
for the grown insect. The case which has almost the shape of a date exhibits ventrally on each open end a 
shovel-shaped appendage. On the latter the new case is affixed, though on a much larger scale, and in doing 
so the building material of the original case is also used. Then the larva simply moves into the new' house. The 
larva seems to be very lively and, in case of being alarmed to bite through the thread by which it is suspended, 
in order to drop on the ground where it is of course difficult to discover among the tangled mass of tropical 
plants. The larva itself is posteriorly thickened and tapers, towards the end of the head. The pupation takes 
place in the same case. 
Hampson’s table of the family is incorrect with respect to the. absence of the frenulum stated by him 
as a characteristicum of the family; in the Lacosominae it is present, though it is often reduced. They are 
separated from the Arbelidae by the distantly separated course of the veins 8 and 9 of the forewing though the 
Arbelidae seem to be very similar in their anatomical structure, and their larvae are wood-borers. Besides, as 
mentioned above, the proboscis is absent, and on the hindwing vein 8 runs freely or is at most connected by 
a bar with the anterior edge of the cell, though it only anastomoses with it close to base (M. Dratidt). 
